Disclaimer: Square-Enix Incorporated owns all copyrighted material this fanfiction may include. All other materials, such as characters, events, dialogue, et cetera, all belong to Zeshin-kun.

Author's Note: To RidRX: Haha, the Auron-Tidus relationship was something I never really intended on. Actually, Takuma/Shuyin was only meant to be a way for Shuyin to grow and discipline himself, kinda like Huo Yuanjia in Fearless growing while living with the villagers - if you've seen that movie. I already mentioned how Takuma came about. When I had Takuma scold Shuyin, it was mostly to show that Shuyin was still a naive adolescent at that point. He knew the stakes of the Machina War, but it doesn't quite filter in until you realise it on a personal level. That came about thanks to Damusa. Anyway, like I said, it's all up in the air for now so the Takuma/Auron Shuyin/Tidus team-up just may happen.

I'm glad you liked the Seymour. I intend on having a few more Seymour forms as well as a few other surprises in later chapters. Hopefully, it'll be to my readers' liking. Oh, and since you're wondering about Lulu and Wakka, well, this chapter's great for that. =P

"one more thing what was with the last parT? "so it seems i was his partner after all.." thing?? did shuyin said it or another guy?"

^Glad you caught that. It was Shuyin who said the line and you'll find out in this chapter just what he meant.

To the lot of you, my loyal readers, this chapter below features the aftermath of Chapter 15's battle. Wakka and Lulu have been recovered, but remember what became of Lulu back in Chapter 12? Well, all you really knew was that she was rendered unconscious by Seymour's Overdrive. That's only a sprinkle of the consequences of trying to escape.

Furthermore, this chapter will be setting the stage for another upcoming event, which I hope to turn a few heads. I hope you'll enjoy reading this next installment and please, leave a reply when you're done. =(

Spira: The Eternal Discord

Chapter 16: Return of Shadow

Tidus

By this point, I really couldn't be sure about anything anymore. Following the disappearing act Seymour pulled, the bunch of us got Wakka and Lulu back to the Celsius. Wakka was recovering fine, but Lulu… Anyway, from the stuff that went on just after, I guessed we had even more work cut out for us than we thought.

Yuna was in tears over Lulu's bed in the Celsius' med bay. She'd done a scan on the two hostages to make sure of their injuries and, while Wakka got a near clean bill of health, only trouble being a few bumps and bruises, Lulu got hit hard. From what Yuna's spell reported, she sustained serious internal injury, singed bones, and deeply inflamed nerves. I didn't know anything that could've done that, but the evidence built up a strong case against Seymour being the cause. That ex-Maester, as strong as he was, definitely didn't have the capacity and experience to do whatever it was that got Lulu. It was Rikku that suggested what nobody wanted to hear. Even before she said it, Yuna, Paine, and my carbon copy shared the same somber look, very close to the look my other had over Rikku killing Seymour.

Still, I probably should have started this better and explained how we came to that point. It was just after Seymour took off in that weird cloud of pyreflies…

"Partner? That was you?" I asked, my head totally muddled.

"Well, one of me at least." Shuyin replied with a heavy sigh, "I didn't realize it'd still be around. After all, you guys got me to play nice ghost and go away. Could that be why I'm back? I mean, it would make sense to have me fix my own mess, right?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The shadow." Yuna gasped, "But how?"

"My original pyreflies. They were locked up after what I did to the Crimson Squad. They were trapped behind that door and I couldn't get to them. That's why I went after the Farplane and turned it into that… monstrosity. Behind that door was, well, the beginning of the nightmare."

"And we let it out." Yuna gasped again, "We're the ones that found the spheres. We unlocked that gate and freed what was inside."

It was Rikku's turn to share a terrified thought, "You mean, in the Den of Woe, that was… the real shadow?"

"Only after I was sent. It was brought to my attention that that part of me was released. It was when I created those apparitions of Nooj, Baralai, and Gippal to torment you. Mostly Paine with that one… which I'm deeply sorry for, even if it means nothing. I guess, reactivating them and leaving them like that let them run wild, grow some twisted version of a consciousness, and continue what I set out to do." Shuyin guessed.

"Alright, just how many you are there, ya?" Wakka grumbled, limping his way over to us now that Paine finished tending to his wounds.

"Well, apart from boy wonder and myself, I suppose the only remnant left would have to be that piece of me I left behind in Mushroom Rock." Shuyin answered lowly, gazing off into the distance.

"Sticking around here isn't helping any. Let's head back to the airship and come up with a plan, right?" Rikku murmured, pulling at my arm.

"Right. We need to get Lulu some attention." Yuna agreed, nodding to Wakka who was having a real hard time holding back his boiling rage.

So that's where we were. Well, until we started figuring out about Lulu and Rikku got in that we only knew one other person that could've done it. Of course, nobody there was too happy about it even if everybody had it pegged way before the fact. Even so, none of us could really guarantee it. We just didn't have the facts.

"But Shuyin wasn't ever capable of that, right?" Rikku desperately noted.

"Maybe, maybe not. I did a lot while unsent. I never fried anybody like that before, but I never really wanted to cause anybody direct harm like that, either. If I'm right and those pyreflies that saved Seymour really came from the Den of Woe, that Shuyin's doing things without my conscious direction. I really have no idea what that means or what evolutions in ability it might have gained." Shuyin explained.

"Huh, I accused the wrong Shuyin." I mumbled, walking away from them to go look out the HUD of the airship.

The sun was coming into the evening, only about a couple hours away from setting. Taking in a deep breath, I wondered if my own new lease on life was just temporary, left to me until I had to sacrifice myself again for Yuna. If that other Shuyin was capable of doing that to Lulu, there wasn't a chance I'd let him do that to my Yuna. The dream that can end dreams, huh? I started to resent that title. It was because I was the fayths' only hope that I went and left my girl like that two years ago. Before my head went blank, I could only think about how Yuna wasn't going to be with me and she'd eventually find some other guy and start a family and that guy wouldn't be me. No, I was going to just disappear. Sure, I did it to save my girl, but the selfish part of me didn't care about that in the end. Shuyin was so clear-cut about how I was a success where he was a failure. I don't think he realized what I lost because of my "success".

"Yunie, I'm sure Lulu'll be fine. She's very strong, remember?" Rikku's words got my attention back to my girl.

Yuna was kneeling beside Lulu's bed, trembling with sobs while Rikku tried her best to get her spirit back up. I'd have gone there immediately, but I didn't know what I could tell her. In a way, I blamed myself for all this. Shuyin, as great as he thought he was, got to Yuna because Yuna was thinking about me, stuck on me. When he struck that first time, I'm sure Yuna only held back because he looked like me and holding back made it easier for Shuyin to hit hard. He managed to break my girl because she was afraid hurting him would hurt her chances of getting me back. Now, that asshole even hurt Lulu, somebody who was like a big sister to Yuna. What could I do about it? Was I ready to lose myself to another stupid thing Spira threw at us? My Zanarkand was so much easier than this mess of a world.

Anyway, while I was lost in my thoughts, Rikku kept consoling Yuna with no results. Wakka was kicking and screaming about Shuyin being a traitor while the guy apologized and kept trying to explain to the guy that there were now three of him. Wakka was hysterical, though. Even Paine had to stick up for the guy just to keep a brawl from happening. It was actually very weird seeing Paine, who was the one that really wanted to tear Shuyin's head off, going to his defense so fiercely. This stuff kept up until we got back to Besaid. Yuna was still in tears, but she'd exhausted herself and Rikku was finding it better suited for her to get her cousin to the cabin below. Wakka left in a flurry, cursing the entire way, Shuyin following close behind with a low growl of his own. The rest of us decided to get some time in the village to sort things out.

Lulu arrived a few minutes after we did with Rikku, Brother, and Buddy. She told us that Yuna cried herself to sleep and she figured it'd be best to leave her alone for a while. Also, Lulu would be better accommodated at home than on an airship bound for the crazies out there. Wakka threw another fit about that, of course.

"I'm comin' with you, then! I ain't gonna let that guy get away with doing that to Lu!" Wakka growled, smashing his blitz ball into his free hand.

"Then, you'd be a fool. You'll play right into their hands!" Shuyin yelled back.

"Oh yea, you would know!"

"Argh! How many times am I going to say this? I'm NOT it! I'm very sorry that it's back and I know I'm the reason it's even around, but that shadow isn't me and I'm going to do everything in my power to stop it."

"Yea? Everything in your power is what got Lu in the condition she's in, ya?!"

"I'm sorry…" Shuyin said, no longer able to look Wakka in his eye, "Like I said, I'm going to do everything I can to stop it. Both of them. I stake my life on our victory."

"No, Shuyin. This has gone on long enough." A new voice interrupted, getting everybody's attention on him, "Wakka, haven't we been through this before? You're a father now. Granted, you're also her husband, but shouldn't you still be careful for the sake of your son? You should know if, Yevon forbid, Lulu doesn't pull through…" which got gasps and retorts from a lot of us, "if she doesn't make it, your son doesn't need to lose his father, too. Don't make Vidina an orphan."

Beclem's words made a lot of sense, but I wasn't sure Wakka was listening. Just like it was two years ago, Wakka wasn't a guy with good foresight. He was the guy that just winged it or tagged along if one of us had a good idea. In this argument, we were heading up a lost cause.

Well, that was before Shuyin came back in the game, "He's right, you know? Talk about how horrible my dark side is, a part of him came to be because Jecht wasn't there for me. I was a 'bastard' because he died and took mom with him. Don't do that to Vidina."

"Vidina, ya? Yea, I get you." Wakka mumbled with a sigh, "Alright alright! I'll stay back and take care of Lu, ya? But get in a good swing at him for me, ya?"

"No problem. I'll get in a good swing… for the lot of you."

With that, Wakka left to see to Lulu and, just as he did, Yuna came in from the distance.

"I'll give it one for every person that suffered because of me. And I'll finish off that ex-Maester, too. This nonsense has gone on long enough." Shuyin added, turning to head back for the airship.

"Shuyin," Yuna abruptly said, "we'll need you for the coming fight. Won't you stay to plan it out with us?"

"It's alright, Yuna. I'm sure you guys've got more than your fill of me. I'm gonna go to the Celsius and see if I can't do more about that sphere we found back in Guadosalam." He noted, not stopping his movement.

When he was gone, Yuna took in a deep breath before continuing, "Nostalgia."

"What?" Paine asked.

"That's what we were doing with Seymour, right? We're down to Bevelle with him. Now, what about Dark Shuyin?"

"Dark Shuyin? Suits him. Well, there's always Mushroom Rock Road. He'd still be at home in the Den of Woe." Rikku muttered, her eyes glancing back over to where Shuyin disappeared to every now and then.

"Yes, but I think that'll be the last place for him, when he's run out of ideas. It's a safe haven for him." Yuna suggested, "Probably Zanarkand, too. After all, even if he wasn't technically born there, some part of him would recognize it, right?"

"We might just peg all the temples then. He's infected them all the same." Paine added, clenching a fist.

"And Macalania." I mentioned, knowing that if it was special to me, it probably had some creepy parallel importance to Shuyin, too.

"Macalania?" Yuna asked me.

So, I clarified, "Yea, I figure Shuyin probably liked it just like me when we were there."

"Come to think about it, Yunie, when you were singing that song in the Thunder Plains, I did see them, Shuyin and Lenne, in a really pretty forest for a split second. I think that might have been Macalania for them." Rikku added.

I knew it. Everything I was was a cheap copy of that guy. I was living in another man's shadow again, but this one literally made me. So much for one-upping my old man. This guy's everything I am and more.

"But you know, he died in Bevelle. It's a sure bet both Seymour and Dark Shuyin will be there, right?" Yuna asked.

"Yea, that makes sense. Bevelle then?" I suggested.

"Bevelle it is." Paine accepted.

Since we were in agreement, it was time to head off again. Under the red glow of a setting sun, we went back to the beach where Shuyin was waiting for us, hand grasping the sphere they found under the Moonflow. Paine just passed him by, Rikku put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and the rest of us waited for him to give us some news.

"This sphere was recorded during a game we had against the Guado Glories just a few months before the war. Yu Yevon's talking to Lenne. After the season ended, Lenne was given notice to start training as a summoner." He said, his eyes darkened and piercing, "I can't make out what's going on because of the wear, but something happened with those two then."

"How does that help us?" I asked him.

"It doesn't." He looked away, "It's actually quite useless now except to piss me off. But it got me thinking about my past. I'm sure you guys figured it out, too. The first place we're going is Bevelle, isn't it?"

"Yes." Yuna answered him.

"Good. It's our best bet. Seymour was affiliated with that city and that's where I died. That cloud of pyreflies, it was taunting me. That's how I knew who it was at the onset. It was accusing me of weakening, not fulfilling my vow. I think that shadow's taking us to Bevelle to show me what started me down the road. It's trying to get me back. It's incomplete without me and it knows it so that's the plan for now."

"For now?" She asked.

"Until it realizes I'm not ever going back. Then… it'll spare no expense to make sure I suffer. We'll want to stop it as soon as possible, hopefully before it understands."

"You'll need further support then." Beclem's voice interrupted us again.

"No, you…" Shuyin was about to object.

"Have nothing to lose and no one to hurt with my death."

"Except Wakka, the Aurochs, and the rest of Besaid who all know you."

"Know of me. I wasn't one to socialize. Besides, you'll need my support much as the support I've already enlisted waiting for us in Bevelle."

"Enlisted?" Yuna wondered.

"The Leblanc Syndicate. They actually jumped at the chance to be on the case."

"That's because you're all fools. This isn't a game. People could die. No, my mistake. People will die, I can almost assure you of that. The shadow's not going to go easily and it'll place any life in danger as long as it thinks it'll hurt me."

"Then, we shouldn't dawdle. The more time we waste hesitating, the more time they have to cause harm." Beclem insisted, moving past Shuyin into the airship, "Coming?"

"You know, you complain about Wakka, but you're just as stubborn a mule." Shuyin grumbled.

"It's a gift. We should be off."

And that was it. With Beclem on board and Leblanc's gang waiting for us in Bevelle, we took off for the New Yevon capitol. What would be there to greet us? What was my new fate going to be? I guess all that was left was to hold on and see.

"Twilight. Twilight in Bevelle." Shuyin mumbled, his words presenting exactly what I was most afraid of.

'Twilight.' I thought, 'Mine."

Author's Note: No, Tidy Widy, I wouldn't do that to you… or would I? Kukuku. Anywho, yes, I have brought in Evil Shuyin from the good ol' days of FFX-2. What's he up to? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. But wow, what a power he's got, eh? Microwaved the poor girl... or has he? Heehee, I give away nothing until I have more questions in reviews. =\ Anyway, they're off to Bevelle. Could only mean one thing cuz there's a specific person who should be there waiting. ^_~ … or not. ^o^